Posted on 11/28/2018 4:06:51 PM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
n an interview with POLITICO, the president drew a red line in his funding fight with Democrats and said he doesnt 'do anything just for political gain.' For the past two years, congressional Republicans have persuaded President Donald Trump to delay the fight to fund his border wall, convincing him he would pay a steep political price for such a high-stakes legislative brawl.
Trump is done waiting.
Nine days ahead of a deadline that could trigger a partial government shutdown, with no solution in sight, the president told POLITICO in an Oval Office interview on Tuesday that he is unflinchingly firm Congress must send him a bill approving $5 billion for his wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and that he would "totally be willing" to shut down the government if he doesn't get it. Democratic leaders including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York have said they would approve $1.6 billion for the wall, placing the two sides billions of dollars apart as the lame-duck session begins.
Raising the stakes even higher for the GOP, Trump said the $5 billion would cover only the physical border. "The number is larger for border security," he said.
Sitting at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, with a stack of papers, magazines and a soda at the ready, Trump said he now believes that a pitched battle over the border is a "total winner" politically for his party and a loser for Democrats.
"I don't do anything ... just for political gain," Trump said. "But I will tell you, politically speaking, that issue is a total winner. People look at the border, they look at the rush to the police, they look at the rock throwers and really hurting three people, three very brave Border Patrol folks I think that it's a tremendous issue, but much more importantly, is really needed. So we have to have border security."
Trump was referring to a confrontation on Sunday in which some migrants threw rocks at U.S. Border Patrol officers, although his claim that three were seriously hurt is unsubstantiated.
His insistence on $5 billion for the wall "I am firm," he said does suggest a real risk of a partial government shutdown. Congress must pass seven appropriations bills by Dec. 7 or risk a lapse of funding that would interrupt operations at the DHS, Justice Department, State Department and other federal agencies. On Jan. 3, Democrats will be in the majority in the House, the first time they will have controlled any lever of power in Trump's Washington.
But Trump has made similar threats before, only to abandon his negotiating red lines.
His brinkmanship was also a contrast to his suggestion in an interview with The Washington Post that he might turn to a backup plan, involving more physical security at the U.S.-Mexico border, if Congress rejects his funding demands.
Congress has a long to-do list for the next month, including the farm bill, the Violence Against Women Act and government funding.
House Republican leaders met with the president at the White House, but their plan to fund the wall was not immediately clear. GOP sources say they believe Democrats will want to strike a deal so they start 2019 with a fresh spending slate. But with Nancy Pelosi battling for the speakership and many Democrats in no mood for compromise, an accord seems far off.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters at the White House after the meeting that "the president has been very clear that he needs $5 billion to properly secure the border. We need to be there for him and make sure this gets signed."
Trump also signaled he is in no mood to strike a large-scale immigration deal with Democrats. Asked whether he was open to a compromise to make legal the status of so-called Dreamers undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children the president said he would prefer to wait for court challenges to wrap up. He predicted the legality of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program to defer deportations, would be decided by the Supreme Court, which the Justice Department recently said it would soon petition for a ruling.
If the court determined DACA is illegal, Trump said he'd be willing to make a deal on "border security and everything else."
"I have big heart for DACA," he said. "I want to be able to keep them. But if the court rules properly, there will be no problem with DACA and we'll get everything solved. If the court rules in favor of Obama having that right, it's going to be a disaster because we will get nothing, we will get nothing done."
Legislative restrictions? Would those be laws? You know, like the immigration laws we don't adhere to now?
The wall will stand if it ever gets built. The laws mean little without it.
If there’s a shutdown this will hurt Republicans in blue states...
Oh yeah...
Fire away, Mr President.
Time’s a wasting. Just do it already.
Shut it down. Way past time to build a wall. Way past.
Dems like to pretend that shutting all non-essential federal functions will bring the end of the world. Conservatives ask why we need all those non-essential federal functions in the first place.
He also said Mexico would pay for it. It’s not going to happen! He won’t shut jack down. Empty threat.
Indirectly, mexico will pay for it as we no longer absorb all their poverty.
He should tax the remittances to Mexico, that would be totally justified.
I think that he will get the $5 Billion (which is way short of the $25 Billion actually needed.)
But... but... but... Ann Coulter and all the doom’n’gloomers say that Trump gave up on the wall and will NEVER get it!
Our country is being invaded.
PUT THE MILITARY ON THE BORDER NOW
Oh my.....need to pay the subsides and welfare recipients. Much more important than protecting our nation.
AND tell me how many illegal invaders have either raped, beaten or murdered women in America.
Read my tag, says it all. We have a bunch of dumb shits trying to fix what they broke
But... but... but... Ann Coulter and all the doomngloomers say that Trump gave up on the wall and will NEVER get it!
/////////////////////////////////////
Ann correctly perceives, as we all do. that mass migration into the U.S. is destroying the fabric of our Republic and is now at levels that will destroy or economic prosperity as well. She is merely using her little platform and prominence to goad Trump into making sure we get the wall. We all have to continue to speak up about how untenable the present situation has become. Ann is a “smart ass” and doesn’t care who she upsets. She’s not a gloom and doomer she’s a fighter and though I don’t always agree with her, I’m glad she’s been on our side for the past 20 years or so.
Remember. Ann Coulter has been attacking leftists and defending conservatives since late 90’s. She took the blows both literally and figuratively. Many of her books are excellent resources also.
Anecdotally, when my daughter was a frosh at U of Connecticut in 2001 her and I attended a Coulter speech on campus. The 2000 seat venue was full of leftists revolutionaries intent on disruption and demonstration. Many shouted her down, but were removed by security. The atmosphere was ugly but Ann remained cool, calm. and confident. She gave her talk and then opened it to questions. there were 50 students in line, most of them leftists intent on destroying her arguments. Ann obliterated them all and gave one of the most lucid portraits of conservatism I have ever heard. She did so under perilous circumstances and patiently answered every question and remained to sign books and meet people. I was a fan before I went but left with an even greater appreciation for her, and my daughter was thrilled to hear someone on campus stand up to the mob she had to put up with every day.
Teachers are currently not getting paid in Tijuana because $ and resources have exceeded the budget there.
Also, I follow this woman on FB. But, she has a YT channel now. Some protests are supposed to take place in TJ today
.
This is a good move.
He should order the Army Engineers Corps to begin construction as a matter of national security.
.
It wasn’t the RINOs, it was the brainwashed electorate.
We didn't need a wall for over 200 years because illegal used to be against the law. We wouldn't need one now if we actually enforced immigration laws. Operation Wetback, look it up.
Of course, just like he makes good on all of his threats
WALL FUNDING OFF TABLE Drudge ^ Posted on 12/18/2018
First it was Mexico, then congress.
Tired of winning yet?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.